Anyone who has been reading Inhabitat for awhile knows that we love our eco-fashion here – almost as much as we love green building. Fashion and architecture don’t often get mentioned in the same breathe, but happily, this past week we were able to see the green architecture and the green fashion worlds come together to celebrate Earth Day in an eco-fashion show put on by the Emerging Green Builders (EGB) Chapter of NYC. “Project Earth Day”, as it was called, was put together to showcase the latest in sustainable apparel and textile designs by up and coming designers.

We attended the fashion show on Thursday night and had a great time checking out the latest and greatest examples of sustainable fashion from NYC designers such as Nature Vs. Future, Bahar Sharpar and Covet.

What does green architecture have to do with sustainable style – you might ask? Organizers Molly Garretson and Amber Nelson explained it this way: there has been an upswell of interest in green design everywhere this year – in green building even more than green fashion. Sustainability is an issue that cuts across all design disciplines and in fact, brings disciplines together under common strategies and a common purpose. “EGBNY members are young, creative professionals in the building, architecture and interior design fields,” says Molly Garretson, EGBNY member and the fashion show liaison. “We wanted to throw an event that would not only be fun, but would bring together similar creative, eco-conscious people in another yet related area of design.”

Since we are avid believers in the philsophy that design is design – and architects should be interested in fashion, and fashionistas should be interested in architecture – we were obviously very happy about the interdisciplinary collaboration that came together in Project Earth Day.

Show organizer Molly Garretson explaining her philosophy on green design – in a Bahar Shahpar dress.

In terms of green architecture on display, we were extremely impressed with Amber Nelson’s thoughtful and meticulously green design for the whole space – including an eco catwalk made from 100% recycled plastics from milk jugs and soda bottles, supported by shipping pallets that went straight back to the warehouse for reuse after the show.

The gorgeous runway backdrop was constructed entirely out of bamboo, cardboard roles and waste textiles, while the eye-catching cardboard podium is a simple DIY flat-pack design constructed of cardboard found on the streets of Park Slope, Brooklyn. Kudos to Amber on setting a terrific example for event/interiors designers everywhere. If only all green events went to this level of detail.

We’ve got a ton of photos from the show below, but if you want to see all of our photos of Project Earth Day, check out our FLICKR FEED >

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6 Comments

tragically delicious a....March 30, 2008 at 7:39 pm

wOw! what an INCREDIBLE event! it\’s sEw great to see more eco designers striving to design for a difference! gorgeous collections!

i wish i would have heard about this year\’s competition sooner, i would love to participate!! i am showing my newest eco~glam collection on April 19th in Kent Ohio, for the Who’s Your Mama? Earth Day Festival. perhaps next year i can come play in NYC with some other Mother Lovers!

With more postings like this, it can only increase the awareness and popularity of green fashion. Ideas are the key and combining this with meaning gives a meaningful brand.

Jenny AraskogMay 9, 2007 at 11:59 am

Being A fashion student at st. Martins in London and keen on saving the world Id like to know more about this competition, how to enter in particular! Where can I get this information? Many thanks, Jenny Araskog

Allison ParaMay 2, 2007 at 8:27 am

A Green Avant-Garde Success! EGB-NY really put a great show together; a thorough, well planned event from the sustainable architectural runway and natural back-drops to the growing avant-garde trend of eco-fashion. Many thanks to all involved for your hard work, inspiration and future generated outlook!